The Telecommunications Industry Association is "concerned about Brazilian regulator Anatel not accepting test data generated outside of Brazil, except in those cases where the equipment is too physically large and/or costly to transport," it said in comments filed with the U.S. Trade Representative on its Foreign Trade Barriers report.

The U.S. Trade Representative requested World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with China about China's antidumping and countervailing duties on automobiles from the U.S., it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Oct. 11. The U.S. believes that certain measures imposing antidumping and countervailing duties on the autos are inconsistent with China's obligations under the WTO Agreement, it said. The U.S. sought consultations with China on July 5, but the talks, held Aug. 23, didn't resolve the issue, it said.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative wants input on a Sept. 17 request by China for a World Trade Organization dispute settlement proceeding concerning Public Law 112-99, “Application of Countervailing Duty Provisions to Nonmarket Countries” and Section 2 of P.L. 112-99, “Adjustment of Antidumping Duty in Certain Proceedings Relating to Imports from Nonmarket Economy Countries,” it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Oct. 11. China also challenges the concurrent application of antidumping and countervailing duties under the nonmarket economy methodology with respect to several investigations and reviews initiated between Nov. 20, 2006, and March 13, 2012, on imports from China. China alleges inconsistencies with provisions of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade; the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures; and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments on whether Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Turks and Caicos Islands should be designated eligible to receive benefits under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act as amended by the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.); and whether Aruba, the Bahamas, Domenica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines should be designated to receive benefits under CBTPA, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Oct. 11. Written comments are due Nov. 9 and should be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov. Further information: Donald Eiss, 202-395-3475.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Oct. 4 that he will quickly investigate the details of a financial package offered by the provincial government of Nova Scotia to a paper mill in Port Hawkesbury. His comments responded to a Sept. 26 letter from Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), which asked the USTR to determine if the deal is consistent with Canada's North American Free Trade Agreement and WTO commitments. The situation could significantly affect Maine's paper mills and the jobs and small businesses they support, Michaud wrote. The USTR agreed that news reports have “raised troubling questions about potential injurious and/or WTO-inconsistent subsidies.” Kirk said his office will seek information from the Canadian government and that the U.S. will also raise the issue at meetings this month of the WTO committee on subsidies.

The U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council will establish a Joint Committee to discuss opportunities for enhancing economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation, fostering their economic relations and increasing the volume of trade and investment between them, said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. The Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Investment and Technical Cooperation was signed in New York this week.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking public comment on how to promote greater transatlantic regulatory compatibility, it said in a Federal Register notice set for Sept. 29. Both the U.S. and the European Commission want to reduce unnecessary regulatory differences and are seeking comments from the public on the issue, it said.

China's effort to promote "indigenous innovation" systematically favors products and services of Chinese companies over those of foreign companies, especially in the government and public procurement markets, the Telecommunications Industry Association said in comments on China's compliance with its World Trade Organization obligations that were filed with the U.S. Trade Representative. TIA also said piracy and counterfeiting remain high due to inadequate penalties, uncoordinated enforcement among local, provincial, and national authorities, and the lack of transparency in China's administrative and criminal enforcement system. Companies that are members of the U.S. Information Trade Office continue to be concerned about governmental interference in licensing agreements, they said. USITO was launched by TIA, the Software and Information Industry Association, and the American Electronics Association in 1994, in cooperation with the International Trade Administration. TIA also said: (1) China is aggressively implementing and utilizing technical standards to support development of key industries, especially the ICT industry. (2) USITO recommends that China pursue Customs modernization efforts, which are consistent with those of other WTO members. (3) China's current type approval process for telecommunications equipment is not sufficiently transparent and is burdensome. (4) China''s energy efficiency programs present challenges to foreign companies.

The U.S. Trade Representative set Oct. 13 as the date on which the equivalent amendments to textile and apparel rules of origin of the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) enter into force in all other CAFTA-DR Parties, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 26. The changes are pursuant to a law signed by President Obama on Aug. 10 that also extended the third-country fabric provision of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and extended the import ban for Burma. The modifications apply to goods of a CAFTA-DR Party that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date that the USTR determines is the first date on which the equivalent amendments to the rules of origin to the CAFTA-DR have entered into force in all other CAFTA-DR Parties, now set for Oct. 13. Further information: Caroyl Miller, caroyl_miller@ustr.eop.gov. (See ITT's Online Archives 12071912 for summary of the underlying legislation.)

The U.S. will contribute $150,000 to help developing countries participate in World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation negotiations. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the funds are in response to developing countries' request to update the assessment of their technical assistance and implementation needs. Needs assessments were conducted in the area of trade facilitation in 2007-2010, and in response to the request of some members, the WTO will be updating those assessments to reflect changes since the initial assessments.